For many doctors, Paktia zonal hospital serves as ‘inn’

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A number of doctors and other officials of the zonal hospital in this capital city of southeastern Paktia province have been illegally residing, some with their families, in the state-run hospital, public representatives and civil society activists say.

The families living in the hospital not only use rooms and other places of the building but also consume food meant for patients, they claim.

Civil society activist Bilal Maroof criticized the hospital staff for misusing the facility and said: “They receive high salaries from NGOs, a specialist doctor is paid at least 60,000 afghanis monthly salary, so they should live in the city.”

He added: “One person is using the emergency ward’s bathroom as his bed room, this is not appropriate, no one has the right to reside inside the hospital.”

Member of the provincial council, Mumtaz Karkhel, said the zonal hospital lacked enough medicines and residing in the hospital by its staff members had created disorder and other problems.

Provincial head of the Hewad non-government organization, Dr. Fazl Rahman Mangal, said besides doctors and paramedical staff on night duty, more than 40 doctors, nurses and other staff were illegally spending nights in the hospital.

He said they had suspended more contracts with hospitals since the start of the new year until the doctors stopped going to their private clinics during official time and using facilities and food of patients.

“Excluding those on duty, more than 40 people are residing in the hospital. The number of the hospital total staff reaches about 300, and all of them eat at the hospital from food which is meant for patients. The quality of food served to patients is already weak and will further weaken.”

The zonal hospital chief, Dr. Amanullah Seddique, confirmed the issue which he said had been discussed with doctors and would be resolved soon.

He said discussions were underway with the governor’s house, civil society activists and all friends to resolve the issue soon.

Abdul Wali Sahi, the deputy governor, told Pajhwok efforts were underway to address the issue, which he blamed on differences in working strategy of the contracted NGO and the Public Health Ministry.

Sahi also said they had received information that a number of individuals stayed at night at the hospital.

This comes as clinics and hospitals in the province have not been supplied medicines for the past more than a month.